I'm so sorry for the late update! It had nothing to do with Hurricane Laura (which thankfully passed right by). I actually had a bad migraine and couldn't bare to look at my computer screen.
Thank you all for the well wishes! We're getting close to the end. Here's the next update.

9

Thursday, October 22, 2020
General Hospital 10th Floor

Elizabeth shuts the patient's door behind her gently, then glances at her silver wristwatch. Seeing that it's just after noon puts a smile on her face. Pride puts a bounce in her step as she realizes she's made it four hours into her shift on her first day back without any incidents. Her worry that she'd be slogging through the day by now was unfounded. Being around the patients and getting to help them, while not her passion, is still invigorating.

That and it keeps her mind off of the test results Carly should be getting the following day.

Before she allows any tendrils of fright over this to fester, an idea comes to mind. Peering down the hallway, she only spies white linoleum flooring, sun warmed windows on one side and shut doors on the other - a temporary sight as she knows doctors and nurses could hustle through at any time. Fishing out her phone, she takes advantage, angling her camera and snapping a picture of herself with a giddy smile. She tries not to think of it too much as she types a caption.

First day back! I was a little worried I wasn't ready to come back just yet, but working really centers me.

She's sent plenty of pictures of her kids, but this is the first one she's sent Jason of herself. A burning nervousness clenches her stomach as she puts her phone away and heads to the nurses' station. It's an irrational reaction, she knows. Besides, he hasn't replied to her messages in a few days anyway, so it'll probably be a while before he sees it. Setting her chart down on top of the appropriate stack meant for Dr. Clark, the increased number of shootouts happening in the warehouse district unwillingly comes to mind as the cause for his delayed responses. The series of vibrations against her hip drags her from the edge before she can fall down that particular rabbit hole of thought.

Sidestepping a nurse, she heads towards a window seat framed by fake plants, officially entering her break period. Anticipation livening her blood, she pulls up the new message.

You're beautiful.

Wings beat furiously in her belly, the heat rising to her cheeks almost dizzying. She swears Jason's ability to make her blush is unparalleled. Heart basking in relief, she decides to share a mere fraction of the emotion rooted inside her.

I miss you so much.

She gets two successive replies.

I miss you too.
This is going to end soon. Don't worry.

She takes in a steadying breath.

Okay. I believe you.

Her fingers hesitate over the keys as she debates whether she wants her next words to be given as a text message.

She's interrupted by a familiar, youthful voice calling for her.

"Mom."

Lifting her head sharply, she stares wide eyed as Cameron marches her way. Off balanced, she looks back at her phone knowing her opportunity has been missed. She sends a different set of three words - Please be safe . - before pocketing her phone in her scrubs and rising. Curling a lock of hair behind her ear, she notices the agitation in her son in his brooding gaze and his inability to remain still. There's an uptick in her pulse.

Bringing her hands to his cheeks, she studies the eyes matching her own. "Cameron, baby, what's wrong? Why aren't you in school?"

He steps out of her reach, hand grabbing the strap of his backpack. "It's a half day, remember?"

Slowly bringing her hands down to fold in front of her stomach, she arches a brow at his attitude. Obviously, there isn't any danger bringing him there, but she can tell something else lurks beneath the surface. "Yeah, for a junior field trip you and Josslyn and Trina all seemed really excited about. So what happened?"

He looks at her shoulder, lips pinching and fists tightening as she waits patiently. When his eyes finally meet hers, there's sadness and hurt brimming there. "I saw you. With Jason. I saw you."

Her breath catches and ice encases her heart. Furtively looking around, she assures herself that no one is near enough to hear, then grabs her son's wrist. "Come on, we're going to talk about this," she tells him in a wobbly tone. She's grateful when he doesn't resist and follows her to an empty office - the one that used to belong to her friend, Patrick Drake. She releases him and braces herself before facing him. Hiding her trembling hands under her armpits, she asks, "What did-what did you see?"

The strap of his backpack is strangled in Cameron's grip as his brows pinch together. "I went down to get a drink of water - that's why I was up. But when I got back to my room, I dunno, I decided to look out the window. We're learning astronomy and I just looked, but I-I saw you. And Jason. And you guys were all over each other," his voice overflows with confusion and upset as he starts to pace in a flustered display from what she knows has been eating at him for weeks. "You weren't kissing exactly, but you looked like you wanted to. And I just- I just don't get it," he whirls to face her and she realizes she's been biting her lip to prevent her tears from falling. They rush down at his desperate plea.

"Mom, you were so heartbroken when Shiloh and that doctor replaced Franco's memories with Drew's. You wanted Franco back, you never stopped believing he would return. You said he loved you and would come back no matter what. You loved him that much," he sniffs and wipes at his eyes angrily, his face scrunching up as he struggles not to let the dam break, and it really hits home how deep she allowed Franco to worm into her kids' hearts. And he could be the monster she promised Cameron he wasn't.

Her knees become weak.

"So why would you do this? Why would you cheat on him? Jake and Aiden don't notice it, but you've been pretending around Franco since," he casts his gaze to the side, his frown deep-set.

A trickle of fear winds down her spine. If my sixteen year old boy noticed, what has been going through Franco's mind?

"Joss and Trina try to understand, but I'm sure they think I'm—"

Her wet tremulous gasp cuts him off. "Wait, you talked to them about this? Where?"

He shifts on his feet. "Mr. Corinthos'," he grumbles.

She closes her eyes and inhales. "Okay. Okay, come sit with me and I'll explain everything." She takes a seat on the white leather couch and uses her sleeves to dry her cheeks.

Cameron dumps his backpack on the ground and hunches on the other end of the couch watching her with narrowed eyes.

She twists her hands together for a moment before deciding on being as honest with him as possible. "I do love Franco," she had anyway, "He was a really great friend when I needed one the most, and I think I just grew used to that closeness and support." She props her elbow on the back of the couch and hides her face in her hand. "It turned more into a dependence upon one another though. Who could love the town pariah - the person who was so desperate to be with Jason she jumped on the chance to lie about his identity?" she croaks out, feeling the awful sludge of shame form nauseating clumps in her stomach. "And who would love a reformed serial killer who only did bad things because he had a tumor?"

She feels a warm hand gently squeeze her shoulder and she looks at Cameron through bleary eyes. "Mom, you and Franco made mistakes. You're-you're an amazing person."

She soaks up the sincerity in his heartfelt gaze, lets it ease her nausea into a mild queasiness, and curves her hand over his. "Thank you, Cam." She holds his hand tighter for a moment before letting him pull back as she collects herself and her thoughts. "I didn't want to give up that security with Franco. I just wanted to be loved and to love so badly. So I fought for that with Franco. But I was never actually in love with him."

She looks down, fidgeting with her fingers, trying to figure out exactly how to explain the depth of her feelings for Jason. "I... like to believe that there is someone out there meant for everyone. And for me, that someone has always been Jason," she pauses and meets Cameron's unreadable look.

"We came into each other's lives when I was seventeen and I had only known him as Emily's older brother, and, before that when I was really little and my brother Steven and my sister Sarah and I would visit Grams, he was AJ's cute, younger brother." She smiles momentarily in remembrance, having not thought of that in such a long time because she thinks of Jason Morgan and Jason Quartermaine as separate people now.

"We were in really dark places at the time. I had thought I lost whom I thought was my forever, Lucky, and Jason had just lost the little boy he loved so dearly as a son, Michael. We went on motorcycle rides together and we talked all the time. Two people you would never expect to ever cross paths grew close, and we-we fell in love," she admits with a soft, blissful smile.

"It can't be explained, our love for each other. It doesn't make sense. It just is," she says with a fierce certainty that stems from her soul. "And it persists no matter how far apart we are or who we have in our lives at the time. Whenever we enter each other's lives again, it's like we drift towards one another, like two halves seeking completion. Every time."

She sees Cameron swallow and look down, his knee bouncing as he ingests her words.

Elizabeth glances down at her wedding band with a regretful smile. "The reason we're not already married with a half a dozen kids is because our lives are so different." A sigh slides from her as she tries not to let anger well up at how much time they've wasted apart. "It was me at first - I was afraid to take the risk of being with him, because I knew what it felt like when I thought I lost Lucky. If I lost Jason that way, I knew it would end me," she blinks back tears and forces herself to admit to him quietly, "I've lived a life where my only reason for getting up each morning was you boys."

Cameron's eyes flash up to hers, seeming to understand as he says just as soft, "When everyone thought Jason was dead, right?"

She nods, pulling her lips into her mouth and licking away salty moisture. "Yeah, living through not only Jake's 'death' and then his too?" Tilting her head skyward for a moment, she forces back the choking dam of her emotions before continuing. "So I can't feel resentful about his fears of the same thing happening to me or you guys. That's what kept us apart for this long. But I've-maybe we both have come to really learn that love isn't supposed to be safe," she spits the word like a curse.

"It's not supposed to be settling. It shouldn't be the practical option. It's supposed to be risky, and passionate, and worthwhile. It's supposed to fill you up until you can't breathe past how much you just love this person and want to be with them and want to spend the rest of your life with them no matter what," her fiery speech ends when her breath catches as Cameron regards her with such care and understanding and forgiveness. Her strength tumbles right out of her, leaving her raw and exposed. "It's supposed to be with Jason."

She crumbles, and Cameron is there pulling her into his arms as she weeps. "It's ok-it's okay mom. I think I understand," he soothes, rubbing his hands up and down her back. "I mean, I think I'm too young to have met that someone, but I get it," she feels him shrug and laughs with him, slowly being able to put herself together with his unwavering support. "Either way, you deserve to be happy, mom. I want you to be happy," he tells her in a soggy voice and her motherly instincts kick in.

Pulling from his arms, she cups her baby's cheeks gives him a loving smile. "Cameron Steven Webber, you have become such a wonderful young man, and I am so proud of you."

His cheeks warm under her hands and he ducks his wet gaze downward briefly. "Thank you, mom."

She combs her fingers through his hair. "Thank you for listening and being there for me. I have such an amazing son I wouldn't give up for the world," she gushes with a tender smile.

When he goes for a hug, she eagerly pulls him into her chest, absorbing his scent, and for a second remembers when the doctors put his tiny squalling form in her arms. The love she felt for him then has only grown.

"What're you going to do about Franco?" he asks after a time as she fingers his soft hair.

"I was actually going to talk to him about separating tomorrow." Well, that's if the results Carly gets proves he hasn't been lying; if so, I'm packing up you boys and leaving without a word to him.

"Okay. And... Jason?" he tentatively asks.

She opens her mouth, then shuts it with a sigh. "Things are still dangerous right now, so we agreed to wait. But after, I'm hoping me, you, and your brothers can get a new house, and I'll slowly start bringing him around..." she carefully unravels her thoughts while nervously tracing the design on the hem of Cameron's coat. "Ultimately, I'm hoping he can move in with us, and we'll be a family, and one day... we'll get married."

She feels anxiety and embarrassment prickling across her skin like she's a schoolgirl revealing the most important portion of her diary. But when Cameron pulls back and looks at her with bright eyes, her worries ease. "I hope so too. I'd like to get to know the guy who means the world to you."

Her cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. "Thank you, Cam."

"No problem, mom. Hey?" he jumps up from his seat, "Can we get something to eat? I'm starving."

She laughs and stands, accepting that their heart to heart is done. She looks down at her watch. "I've got about fifteen minutes left in my lunch hour, so we better book it."

He snags his backpack up and heads for the door which she squints at upon noticing that it's cracked open.

Cameron pauses in the doorway to look at her with urgency, clearly dissatisfied with her pace. "Come on."

She giggles and shakes her head, speeding up as they head for the cafeteria. She's not really hungry, but more time with her son is never a bad thing.

—

Elizabeth scrubs the last of the pasta from the plate into the sink before passing it to Cameron to rinse. She takes a moment to stretch her back annoyed at just how strained it feels. She only worked six hours to ease herself back into the routine, but her body seems hell-bent on voicing it's displeasure.

"You didn't really eat much tonight or at lunch. You feeling okay?" Cameron murmurs her way.

She reaches for another plate to clean, thinking about it. "Yeah, I've just been feeling a little queasy today, is all. It was my first day back. My body's not used to it yet," she explains easily.

"Hey, mom? There's this recital on the 30th for Halloween my friend Alex is going to be a part of. Can I go?" Jake asks down the line, the designated stacker for the night.

There's always four people - washer, rinser, dryer, and stacker - with one person who has the night off. She's grateful Franco is in the living room tonight working on a commission sketch he promises will be worth enough to stop the threats of foreclosure - not that it will matter after tomorrow. If she has to pretend to enjoy kissing him again, she feels like she's going to crawl out of her skin.

Off the top of her head, she can't think of what day the 30th falls on. She quickly peels off her gloves and moves to the island where her phone sits. "Hold on, let me check." Navigating to her calendar, she sees it lands on the following Friday, but a niggling in the back of her mind makes her study her phone longer. Something looks off. She stares blankly, not pinpointing it until she realizes it's not that something's off, it's that something's missing. Shifting so her weight rests on one hip, she decides to scroll back through her calendar, hoping to get a clue.

She stops dead, her heart squeezing until she can't breathe.

September 1st marks her last period.

No. I can't be… We've always used condoms. But I've been through this enough times to know that the signs are all there. Her hands begin to shake as realizations set it. Franco. I could be having a child with a rapist.

She slaps a hand over her mouth as her phone cracks against the floor. She bolts for the bathroom, ignoring everyone's concerned shouts as her queasiness evolves into full on nausea, then vomiting when she retches into the toilet.

She chokes, gasping for breath as tears drip down her cheeks. She knows in her gut that their suspicions are probably right about Franco. She's seen flashes of something dark and unsettling beneath the surface in response to her pulling away. If he knew she was pregnant...

Another wave of retching ensues as she clings to the cold porcelain. I need to get my kids out of here now—

"Hey, what's wrong?" His hands grip her shoulders, then pull her hair back from her face. "You're crying. Does anything hurt?" His voice is saturated with concern.

She flinches, but doesn't pull away, as it dawns on her how vulnerable she is now. If I try to leave now he could very easily hurt any one of my kids or make me miscarry. No, I have to wait until he's out of the house.

She gives him a sidelong look while trying to catch her breath. "I'm... I'm fine. I just haven't been feeling well all day."

She feels him gently tug on her arms and she stands with his help, letting him guide her towards the sink. He wets a face towel and she stands still as she cleans her mouth, then after, she takes the toothbrush and toothpaste he hands her with a stiff thanks.

He plays the attentive husband, stroking between her shoulder blades while she cleans the awful taste from her mouth. She hears his shoes faintly squelch as he shifts. "You know, maybe this is a sign that you should take off for tomorrow, if you're feeling so bad."

Her hand with the toothbrush freezes before she slowly retracts it from her mouth. She meets his eyes in the mirror, sees nothing but genuine worry in his eyes, but can't fight the hairs that rise on the back of her neck. She spits the toothpaste out and rinses her mouth before shaking her head. "No, I'm really feeling better—"

"Come on, I can take off too and take care of you," he urges with furrowed brows and a pleading voice as his hand falls to the small of her back.

She shakes her head again. "No, you have that commission you're working on. You can't blow it off again," she argues, feeling panic beginning to cut off her airways.

He turns her to face him and the reassuring smile he now wears. "I can work on it when you're sleeping. Come on, let me take care of you."

Her mouth opens and shuts like a fish a few times, but she realizes denying him one more time would be suspicious. So she presses her lips together, resisting the churning of her stomach, and pastes on a grateful smile. "Okay."

He grins, then leans down, and she closes her eyes and does her best to pretend he's anyone else to keep her stomach at bay when he kisses her mouth. "Mmm, minty," he chuckles and pecks her again. "Let's get you to bed. I asked the boys to finish up the dishes while I took care of you."

She doesn't object even as her insides scream at her to do the opposite. As soon as the living room is visible, two brunettes and one blond rush towards her and begin spouting questions about her health. She sees Franco about to interject, but steps forward and pulls Aiden into a hug. They all fall silent as she does this to each one, pulling them in, stroking their hair, and kissing their cheeks before she reluctantly returns to Franco's side.

"I'm fine guys. I just need to get some rest, okay?"

Jake and Aiden accept this with well wishes and smiles, but Cameron eyes her a little longer, hesitating. "Okay, mom... if you're sure?"

Her smile becomes tender as love brims in her eyes. Her little man wanting to protect her solidifies her resolve to do anything it takes to make sure her kids come through this unscathed. "Yeah, I'm sure. Goodnight boys."

"Goodnight!"

Franco's hand on her back follows her all the way up to their room where the idea of changing in front of him has her looking for an exit and finding one in the form of her missing phone. She steps away from him, turning on the balls of her feet. "Uh, you know, I forgot my phone and I need to turn off my alarm for tomorrow, so..."

He holds his hands up, halting her. "I'll go get it. You just get into bed."

She nods and waits until he's clear of the door before rushing to exchange clothes. She's under the covers when he returns.

He hands it over before pointing his thumb at the door behind him. "I'm gonna see the boys off to bed, then work a little more on my art before coming up, okay?" He places a kiss to her forehead and runs his fingers through her hair. "Get some rest."

She keeps the smile on her face until he shuts the door to a crack behind him. Holding her breath, she listens for his fading footsteps before pulling up her contact list with shaking hands. It rings twice before a voice sounds on the other end.

"Elizabeth? What's—"

"My kids and I need to get out of this house as soon as possible," she cuts in, her fingers curling into her blanket as she stares her bedroom door down.

"Has he done something? The results won't be ready until tomorrow—"

"I don't need the results to know that something's not right with him Carly!" she stresses as quietly as she can while trying to get her trembling under control. "Cameron confronted me at work about having seen me with Jason, and he says he noticed that I've been pretending with Franco ever since. He's sixteen. Franco has to know I don't want to be with him anymore. And now he wants me to stay home tomorrow so he can take care of me—"

"What happened? Is there some kind of infection from the surgery?" Carly demands, and her brand of concern actually feels real.

Elizabeth wets her lips, not daring to voice her condition aloud no matter how certain she feels she's alone. "I was just sick like last week when you were here. It was my first day back at the hospital and I pushed myself too hard. I'm okay."

"Okay, that's a relief." Elizabeth hears her sigh through the phone. "Here's what's going to happen. I'm going to throw some money at the hospital and see if they can get me the results first thing."

Elizabeth hardly has a breath in to protest when Carly rushes on.

"We're gonna need them because I'm also going to call your guards and tell them to stop by your place tomorrow for a surprise visit. And if they happen to need to restrain your husband..."

"It'll be because we have evidence that I had reason to fear for my safety," Elizabeth exhales sagging into the bed in relief. "Thank you, Carly. I'm glad to have you on my side."

When she hears Carly laughing over the line, her brows scrunch up with confusion.

Carly answers her unvoiced question. "I'm sorry, I'm just wishing I had this on record, because I know Jason would never believe you just said that to me. And thanking me on top of it too?"

Elizabeth grins wide, understanding now. "Yeah, you're right. I never thought I'd see the day when you didn't outright despise me."

Carly sobers up, her voice sounding a degree softer. "Yeah, well, Jason pointed out how you wouldn't have a reason to want me out of his life if I didn't give you one. And since you're going to be priority number one once this stuff is over, I figured I needed to buck up and be the friend he deserved so I didn't lose him."

Elizabeth can't find any words for a moment, stunned at the strength it took for Carly to expose one of her greatest fears to her. Carly has come a long way from the hissing hellcat she was years prior, but her reflex to run Jason's life how she sees fit has been something she's never grown out of. Until apparently now, that is.

Elizabeth finally lets go of any reservations she had towards Carly and finds her response. "I agree, the boys and I, his family, should definitely be top priority... But you're a part of that too Carly."

There's a shaky breath. "Thank you, Elizabeth. I'll make sure you don't regret it. And on that note, I have to call Ben and Joseph about being there tomorrow morning. Don't worry. You'll be safe by the end of the day."

Keeping her eyes on the door, Elizabeth draws courage from those words. "Okay. I'll let you go then."

She hangs up after Carly's goodbyes and finally feels the tension knotting her body begin to ease up as she sinks into the cushion of her bed. Rubbing her hand over her flat belly where her baby grows, she tries not to let her heart sink, because she loves it so much already - regardless of its father. But a large part of her, especially now with how close she is to having her dream finally realized, wishes it had been Jason's.

It doesn't really matter, I guess. We're going to love you as our own, the same as Cameron, Jake, and Aiden. That's what you're going to remember the most when growing up, she internally reassures the little life with a final, gentle pat to her belly. Fatigue starts to weigh her down, but she decides to stay up a little longer, wanting to hear the sounds of her boys turning in to be sure they're okay.

Doors shut, the house quiets, footsteps descend the stairs all seeming distant and muffled as she drifts. She snaps back to awareness as the bed is jostled and the rumbling of thunder sounds not far off. From how sluggish and tired she still feels, only a few hours must have passed.

"Sorry, I didn't mean to wake you," Franco whispers, sliding closer.

She jolts at his cold touch, but settles moments later, fighting a losing battle to sleep. "...took you so long?" she vaguely wonders, already slipping back under.

"I had a burst of inspiration and decided to strike while the iron was hot."

If he says anything more, it's lost on her as she falls into a deep sleep.